Wire feeding and positioning apparatus



M y 1958 c. P. CAD! WIRE FEEDING AND POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 124- 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CHARLES I? CADY D. EMMETT THOMPSON Amway May 27, 1958 c. P. CADY WIRE FEEDING AND POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 12, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CHARLES P. CADY BY D. EMMETT THOM PSON Attorney United States Patent wmn FEEDING AND POSITIONING APPARATUS Charles P. Cady, Canastota, N. Y., assignor to Westlake Manufacturing Corporation, Canastota, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 12, 1953, Serial No. 391,581

4 Claims. (Cl. 203-150) This invention has to do with apparatus for automatically moving the end portion of a length of wire back and forth over a path between a plurality of work stations and for automatically advancing the wire a predetermined distance during movement of the wire end toward one of the work stations.

The wire is taken from a spool, reel, or other source of supply, and the leading end of the wire is acted upon by mechanisms arranged at the work stations. For example, a forming mechanism may be positioned at one of the work stations and operable when the wire end is positioned in registration with the forming mechanism to form the wire end into a predetermined shape. When this formed end of the wire is moved or shifted into registration with another work station, it is acted upon by mechanism at the second station which, for example, may consist of a welding mechanism to weld the formed wire end to another work piece, and severing mechanism to sever the welded wire end from the strand of wire.

The invention has as an object a device of the type referred to embodying a particularly compact structural arrangement which is economical to build and which functions with great efficiency over prolonged periods of operation without maintenance, and further embodies means whereby the extent the wire is advanced in each cycle of operation may be readily adjusted.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a wire feeding and positioning apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view looking to the left in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 44, Figure 1, illustrating the gripper portions of the wire advancing or feeding mechanism in closed position.

Figure 5 is a view, similar to Figure 4, illustrating the wire gripping portions in open position.

The apparatus consists of a base plate apertured to receive an actuating shaft 11 journalled on a vertical axis in the plate lfl and having attached to its upper end a post 12. The post is fixedly secured to the shaft 11, as by a set screw 13, and the post serves to carry a frame member, here shown in the form of a U-shaped member having leg portions 14, 15. The upper end of the leg portion 14 is'fixedly secured to a shaft 16 extending through the post 12 and being fixedly secured thereto by screw 17. The leg portion is positioned in proximity to an arcuate member 18 formed on a radius extending from the axis of the shaft 11, the member 18 being fixedly mounted on the base plate 10, as by screws 20,

2,836,287 Patented May 27, 1958 2 Figure 3. The leg 15 is also provided, at its upper end, with a forwardly projecting portion 22 having an enlargement 23 formed on opposite sides with surfaces 24, 25. The portion 22 is arranged in alinement with the shaft portion 16, and these portions are formed with alined apertures for passage of the wire 26. The inclined surfaces 24, 25, extend in angular relation to the axis of the wire and are engaged by adjustable stop screws 28, 29, threaded into upwardly extending portions 30 formed on the arcuate member 18.

When the shaft 11 is oscillated, the frame member 1415 is moved back and forth over an arcuate path about the axis of the shaft 11, the extent of this movement being controlled by the setting of the stop screws 28,29.

A work station A is indicated at 31, and a second work station B is indicated at 32, Figure 2. Forming mechanism may be located at one of these stations, such as station A, and including tools for forming the end portion of the wire 26, as indicated by the 8 formation at 34, Figure 1. Other tooling may be positioned at station B as, for example, a gripping jaw device 35 for gripping and holding a work piece 36 over which the formed end portion 34 of the wire is positioned when the frame is moved to the position shown in Figure 2 against the stop screw 28. At station B, there may be provided a welding electrode 38 for welding the formed portion 34 of the wire to the work piece 36, and with a shear member 39 for severing the welded formed end portion from the wire strand. It will be understood that the tooling at the work stations may be of any type suitable for the particular job and will be operated in timed relation to the operation of the wire feeding and positioning device.

The frame member carries a wire feeding or advancing mechanism which is operable automatically to advance the wire as the frame is moved toward one of the work stations as, for example, toward the forming station A. This mechanism consists of a pair of wire gripping members 42 pivotally mounted on a shaft 43 slidably mounted in alined apertures formed in the leg portions 14, 15, and located below the wire 26. The forward portion of the shaft 43, on which the grippers 42 are mounted, is of reduced diameter, and the grippers are mounted between the resultant shoulder on the shaft and a collar 44 fixedly secured to the shaft. The shaft is yieldingly urged forward, with the collar 44 engaging the inner surface of the leg member 15, by a helical compression spring 46 mounted on the rear portion of the shaft and interposed between the leg portion 14 and a collar 47 fixedly secured on the shaft.

The grippers 42 have depending tail portions 56 which straddle a shaft 51 rotatably journalled in the leg portions 14, 15, of the frame, and being restrained against axial movement by collars 52. Opposite sides of the shaft 51 are milled off to provide flat portions 54, see Figures 1, 4 and 5. When these flat portions 54 are positioned vertically, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the grippers 42 close upon the wire 26, this closing being effected by a spring 55 acting upon the tail pieces 50 of the grippers. When the shaft is rotated to move the flats 54 toward horizontal position, as shown in Figure 5, the tail pieces 50 are engaged by the circular surface of the shaft 51 and are spread apart, efiecting a spreading apart of the grippers 42 out of gripping engagement with the wire 26.

The shafts 43, 51, both extend forwardly through the leg portion 15 of the frame member and through a rectangular opening 57, see Figure 3, formed in the arcuate member 18. The forwardly extending portion of the shaft 51 has fixedly secured to it a collar 58, formed p with a depending portion-59, -to which :is spi votally mounta eda depending pawl member 60, as by a rivet 61, or the a like. This pawl member 60: is free to rotate in a counterire'cfiiylgrTigil'reBfblitlis -1'st1ftii'ned 10m -l Q-n ock\vise 'dire'ction. A pin 63 pi'oje'cts from the upp A surface of {the baseplate and is engaged lby' the pawl when the frame is moved toward the work station A. Inasmuchas the pawl 60 can not'rotate about its pivot 61 in a clockwise directioniFigu're--3,' rotation in a clockwise direction'is imparted to the shaft S IQvvhen the lower end of the pawl eng'ageslhe pin'63. This 7 a movement of theshaft 51110 the position shown in Figure p 5 effects opening of the gripper members,

A'sthe gripper members fl are thus opened, th'e-forwardly projecting' portion of theshaft 43 engages the cam surface 66 of-mernber 67 mounted for pivotal move. ment about a screw T6 8 threaded into a'block 69 detach ably mounted on the base plate 10, as by screws. 78,

V these'screws extending through elongated slots 71 formed, in the base portion 72 0f, the block 69 to permit adjustment of the :block toward and 'from'the arcuate mem-;

ber 18; t 7 7 The cam member 67 is restraine'dfrom rotation in clockwise direction, Figure 2, by a stop-pin 74, the'carn member being yieldingly urged against the pin 74 by,

spring 75. Accordingly, as' the frame is moved'toward the stop screw 29, the end of the shaft 43 'engages'the previously stated, at this time the grippers 42am open because of the relative position between the pin-63 and cam member 67, and this arrangement is such that when the shaft 43' and the grippers 42 carried thereby have V cam surface '66 and the shaft is cammed 'rearwardly. As

been :moved rearwardly apredetermined distance, :the

pawl60 passes out of engagement with the pint63, permitting the shaft 51 to be rotated back into therposition shown in Figure 4, whereby the grippers close 'upon the wire bythe action of spring 55. The distance'that the shaft 43'is moved rearwardly and .accordingly,"-the dis- 'tance which the wire is advanced-forwardly,'can be adjusted by'moving the block 69 towardior from the arcuate member 18 and securing thetblock inisuchadjusted positionv by the screws 70. Upon further movement of the frame toward the top screw 29, the end of the shaft 43 7 passes out of engagementwith member 67 and :is urged forwardly by the spring 46 until the tcollarl44' engages a the inner surface of the leg member 15, whereby when the leading end of the wire 26 reaches a position in alinement with the "work station A, the wire has been advanced forwardly a predetermineddistance so that it may,

be operated upon by the toolinglat station A.

The shaft 11 is then rotated in the opposite direction the formed end portion of the wire in registration with the tooling at that'station. During thismovement of the frame toward the stop screw 28, the end of the shaft :43 engages the rear edge of the cam' member 67 and a to swing the frame against the stop screw 28 and position '1. A device of the character described including a plurality'of work stations comprising a base','a support shaft 'jpurnalled in the base,-a-frame mounted I011 said shaft and extending radially therefrom, said frame being,

movable back and forth overan *areuater'pathbetween said work stations upon g oscillationfof said shaftfsaid frameiabe'ing provided with alinedwire.guidingapertiires for guiding the wire radially from'said support shaftgat gripper support slidablytmounted mentrparallel to the axis of said guiding -apertures,a-

' wire gripper -mounted on said gripper support andhaving portions movable into and out of engagement :with t port'shafta predetermineddistance. a 2. A device, of the "character-described including a I the wire, actuating means operable upon initial movement of the frame. toward one of said'work stations to. a 7 move said portions of the gripper outofengagement the wire and to move saidgr'ipper support toward the axis of'said support shaft and, upon furthermovement of the frame toward said station, to move-said portionsj ofl V the gripper into engagement'withgthewire'and to qve said gripper, support "radially, outwardlysfrom s'aid a pluralityof work stations comprising a base, a support a shaft journalled in the base, a frame mounted on said shaft and extending radial1y therefrom, said frame being movable back and forth'bver-anarcuatepathi-betwen said work stations upon oscillation of said fshaft, said frame'being provided with aline'd wire-guiding aperturesfor guiding the; wire radially from said support shaft,

a grippertsupp ort slidably mounted in the frame-for j A movement parallel to the axis'iof said guidingap'ertures;

a wire-grippenmounted on said, gripper support and having portionsmovableinto and out of engagement with the wire, 'ac'tuating'me'ans operable 'upon initial move ment of the frame" toward one of said workfstationyto move said portions of the gripper out of engagement with the wire and to-m'ove said gripperjsupport toward 7 the axis of said-Support "shaft and, upoiifdrtherimov'e ment of the frame toward 'said station, to mo'v'e said' portions of the gripper into engagement with the wire and to move said 'grippersupport radially outwardly-from said support shafta'predetermined distance,'said actuating means being inoperable .to 'effect'movement; of said gripper portions and said-gripper support during-the return movement'of said frame from said station. I

3.,A device as defined in claim 1 whereimsaid frame" is adjustable toward and from the axis of 'said support: shaft; t a if 4. A device of the character described including-in plurality of work stations comprising a base, asupport shaft journalled in the base a U-shaped frame membermounted on said shaft with the leg portions of the frame extending parallelto the axis of the shaft, the'ileg por-it tions of said frame being provided with alinedwireIguid ing apertures for guiding the wire radiallyjfrom said support shaft, said frame beingmovable backanduforth: over an arcuate path between said work stations'gupon;

oscillation of said shaft to position the leading end-10f the wire in registration-with said stations 'res'pectively, a gripper support slidably mounted in the leg-portionofthe frame for movement parallel to the axis of the Wire, a wire gripper mounted on said support and havingi portions movable into and out'of wire grippingjengageinenti with the'wire, a shaft journalledin saidleg portions of the frame and having cam, means operable upon oscillation of said shaftto open and close said'gripper, means cooperable upon initial movement of the frame toward one of said work stationsto effect oscillation of'said'shaft tolniove said igripper portions out of engagement: with the wire,"cam means carried by the baseand operable to-move said igripper support'rearwardly towardtheraxis of said first shaft while said gripper portions: are in open a position. 7

References Cite din the fileofthis patent V UNITED :STATES 'PATlZNTS v d June "9, 19M

1,099,523 'flhompSbnetfal.

1,262,749 Callahan etal; Apr. 16, 192181 1,948,763 Koch 27, $19 34 2,066,163 Stephens et a1. .Dec. 29; 1936; 2,356,837 Ehret et al.' ..+Ai1g.- 29,-ll 944' 2,640,509" Kulberget al. r. June '2, 19,53-

,in the frame forcmove-a 7 

